Staff members at the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District have just completed restoration of 13 acres in the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve.

Work began in 2003 on the land, previously used by a neighboring Christmas tree business, Skyline Ranch Tree Farm, which still operates on 63 acres. The district wanted to protect the wildlife habitat of Horseshoe Lake and the surrounding area.

Though the lake is man-made, it has become crucial to the local animal population, including the San Francisco garter snake and the California red-legged frog, both endangered species.

“This was a way to balance the agricultural use of the land with preserving the lake,” district spokeswoman Leigh Ann Gessner said.

Gessner said the area was restored in sections. The space was regraded to improve drainage, while nonnative plants were removed and used for mulch. Thousands of native plants, including four species of oaks gathered from nearby acorns, were planted by staffers, volunteers and several California Conservation Corps crews.

“It’s been a long-term project, it’s been a lot of work and a lot people have helped,” Gessner said. “Someday, I hope I can go out with my grandkids and see big oak trees out there.”

Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve comprises 2,143 acres and includes 10 miles of trails. The entrance is about a mile south of the Skyline Boulevard and Page Mill Road intersection and is about 12 miles from Palo Alto.

wrapping up open space reclamation project

2003: Work begins to restore land by Horseshoe Lake previously owned by Skyline Ranch Tree Farm, which grew Christmas trees.

2008: Staffers and volunteers plant native plants, including Douglas fir, left, madrone, center, and four species of native oaks, right.

2010: The long-term project has left 13 acres in the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve restored — just in time for Christmas.

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